Protective cover assembly for underfloor access housing

Abstract

A protective cover assembly for an outlet opening of an underfloor access housing is provided to prevent ingress through the outlet opening of a subsequently poured layer of floor fill, such as concrete. The assembly comprises a cup-shaped cap having a fence-like vertical extension detachably connected thereto. The assembly is enveloped by the floor fill and has an upper peripheral edge spaced below the upper surface of the floor fill by up to 1 inch (25.4 mm). A release coating interposed between the protective cover assembly and the floor fill facilitates breakout and removal of the overlying layer of floor fill.

We claim: 
     
       1. A wire distributing floor structure comprising: a metal cellular subfloor presenting plural parallel cells,   an overlying layer of concrete presenting an upper surface,   a cell opening in at least one of said cells,   void forming means enclosing said cell opening and presenting an outlet opening below said upper surface,   a protective cover assembly covering said outlet opening to protect the same from said concrete, said protective cover assembly comprising a cap having a base secured to said void forming means and an upstanding perimeter wall, and a fence-like vertical extension detachably connected to said cap and having an upper perimeter edge spaced below said upper surface of said concrete, and   a release coating provided on those surfaces of said protective cover assembly juxtaposed with said concrete to prevent bonding of said concrete to said protective cap, thereby to facilitate breakout and removal of the overlying layer of concrete to expose said protective cover assembly for removal.   
     
     
       2. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein said upper perimeter edge is spaced at a distance of up to 1 inch below said upper surface of said concrete. 
     
     
       3. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein said concrete has a thickness from said base to said upper surface of up to 23/8 inches. 
     
     
       4. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein said extension and said perimeter wall have confronting faces, and wherein a tang projecting from one of said faces frictionally engages the other of said faces to detachably connect said extension to said cover. 
     
     
       5. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of said extension surrounds said perimeter wall. 
     
     
       6. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein said perimeter wall surrounds a lower portion of said extension. 
     
     
       7. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of said extension has an outer perimeter face which is flush with the outer perimeter face of said perimeter wall. 
     
     
       8. The floor structure of claim 7 wherein a lower portion of said extension resides within said perimeter wall. 
     
     
       9. The floor structure of claim 7 wherein a lower portion of said extension is laterally offset from said upper portion thereby to provide a perimeter shoulder engaged with the upper edge of said perimeter wall. 
     
     
       10. The floor structure of claim 1 wherein clips detachably connect lower portions of said extension to adjacent perimeter wall portions of said cap.